Positive Leadership Limited is a strategic leadership and corporate finance advisory firm. We use our considerable experience to provide unique perspectives and innovative solutions which help corporate leaders unlock maximum value from complex business challenges. There is no dress rehearsal for delivering answers to critical business challenges. When you are under intense pressure to succeed, we help deliver the vitally important marginal gains which let your business excel and win.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Increase your self confidence. When you are learning new things, new horizons are opening up in your mind. You feel better about yourself and your ability to achieve. After all, if you can learn one thing, you can learn more! True genuine self confidence is something that we all can use more of; investing in your education and learning will add to your storehouse of self confidence.

Reach your goals. There is a learning component within every goal, large or small. As you learn more in the focused areas related to your goals and aspirations, you are able to move towards achieving them more rapidly. Investing in education in support of your goals is one of the best things you can do to increase the likelihood that you will reach - and even exceed - them.

Have more fun. When you are reaching your goals and feeling more confident don`t you think you are going to have more fun? You can invest in learning anything! Want to learn how to ballroom dance or judge wines? Whatever your passion, learning opens up new opportunities to enjoy them even more.

Improve your attitude. Human beings are - by design - learning beings. When we are doing the things that make us most human (including learning) we naturally are more upbeat and positive. When you are learning things that help move you towards your goals, will you likely be more positive and optimistic?

Increase your momentum. Momentum is a powerful thing. As the rock rolls down the hill and picks up speed, it becomes more powerful and able to overcome the obstacles in its way much easier. So it is for people too. Learn something, improve your confidence; learn something more and have a more positive attitude; learn something new and you thirst for more. As you continue to learn your learning momentum grows, as does the momentum of your success. A perfect reason to never stop learning!

Reach your potential. Deep inside all of us (especially as our self confidence becomes healthier) is a desire to move closer and closer to our potential - to becoming the person we were meant to be. No other single action will tip the scales towards you reaching your potential more than continuing to invest in yourself as a learner.

The 'Nolan Principles' code of practice was written with regard to the seven principles of public life identified by the Nolan Committee in their First Report on Standards in Public Life in May 1995 and subsequently endorsed by the UK Government. The Principles are worth bearing in mind by private sector leaders as well.

The seven principles are:

Selflessness

Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for awards or benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

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Graham Watson FRSA, LLB, CA is responsible for the advisory and consulting services provided to clients by Positive Leadership Limited (www.positiveleadership.co.uk). He has extensive international experience advising and consulting with organisations of all sizes; in business, sport and education. A qualified lawyer and chartered accountant; Graham is an experienced international investment banker and a trained mediator. Graham has been named a ‘Top 50 Leadership Expert to Follow on Twitter’ (www.twitter.com/posleadership). Previously he was a corporate finance partner with Deloitte, based in the UK and the USA (San Francisco). Graham is a founding member of the Scottish Enterprise backed GlobalScot organisation and he is Scotland's World Leadership Day Ambassador (www.worldleadershipday.org). Prior to establishing Positive Leadership, Graham was the executive director of Winning Scotland Foundation, a charity he co-founded with the goal of encouraging young Scots to develop a winning attitude through sport.

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'The Innovation Manager's contacts have been a great source of inspiration, most notably Graham Watson, whom I think deserves praise for his time and effort with IDEAs.' Stuart Ruthven, PocketFM

Positive Leadership - Recent Engagements

"School Leaders Scotland have been delighted to be partnering Positive Leadership in addressing the Leadership agenda with our members. In particular we have been impressed with the underlying values at the heart of their delivery. All participants at our first CPD gave very positive feedback of the day. We look forward to sharing more such opportunities together." Ken Cunningham CBE, General Secretary

'I want to thank you again for last weekend. It was clearly very productive and educational for all of us.' Caroline O'Connor, Head Women's Golf Coach, Stanford University

“Graham & Gavin know their stuff, as keynote speakers at our Annual Business Panel Conference they capture the audience with an enlightening presentation on positive leadership, well worth listening to!' - Laurence Barratt, Chief Executive, Falkirk for Business ; 'We had over 150 delegates on the day and feedback so far has been very positive, with many people commenting how much they enjoyed your presentation....Thanks again for your excellent contribution.' - Michelle McKearnon, Business Engagement Manager, Falkirk for Business

'I thought the session was great and is something to repeat.' David Watt, Executive Director, IOD Scotland

'On October 26th 2010, Graham Watson and Gavin Hastings of Positive Leadership gave a presentation to 237 people attending the Annual Lunch arranged by Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce. The presentation was based upon sound business practice, backed up by the combined business and motivational skills of Graham and Gavin. It proved to be both informative and inspirational.' Trevor Knowles, President, Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce

Graham and Positive Leadership were involved in the development of our annual Learning for Business Conference from the outset, helping to ensure that it met its professional training and development objectives. The conference was based around case studies and role plays, which asked the speakers to be insightful and flexible in terms of how they presented and interacted with the delegates, and Graham was both. The WS Society's Learning for Business Conference is aimed at young professionals looking to develop their business awareness and personal skills, and he was excellent at understanding the issues facing them in the current climate. During his session he provided guidance on how to develop these new skills and got the delegates to think about how they could take control of their professional development and begin making a difference to their organisations. Many of the more experienced practitioners and HR Managers who attended the event, commented that they would be taking on board some of his suggestions with regard to their own development. Hopefully, he will become a regular speaker on our Learning for Business Programme and at other WS events!' Ann Davidson, Assistant Director, The WS Society

'On behalf of the members and staff of ACCA Scotland, I should like to express our thanks for an excellent event last night. Feedback that we have received from attendees has been excellent and it is clear that the evening was extremely popular and educational to all. On a personal note, I gained a lot from the talk which I hope to be able to apply over the coming weeks / months.' Craig Vickery, FCCA, CA, Head of ACCA Scotland

‘It was an excellent presentation and conveyed a very positive message on the points of leadership. All participants I spoke to have been very impressed.’ Brian Patterson, Business Manager, Clydesdale Bank

'Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce was delighted to engage Positive Leadership Limited to speak at our recent networking event in Motherwell. The presentations made by Graham Watson and Gavin Hastings were first class and were extremely thought provoking and relevant to the needs of many businesses in Chamber membership. We would have no hesitation in recommending Positive Leadership to other Chambers and business support organisations.' Douglas Millar, Chief Executive, Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce

'I found your presentation informative and loved the analogies into sport which I can easily relate to as I play bowls at a high level. Hopefully I will be able to put some of your concepts into practice and help me to achieve excellence in both work and sport!' Kathryn M O'Donnell CA CTA Scott-Moncrieff

Positive Leadership - Recent Events: Delegate Comments

'Extremely positive....enhanced by the enthusiasm of the presenters.'

'One of the best CPD courses I have attended - well done to all.'

'First [CPD] course I have attended and I was extremely impressed.'

'I attended your session for ACCA at Glasgow Caledonian University last Thursday and found it most enjoyable and thought-provoking.'

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